The new owners, Robert Hillman and C.B. Shamah, are shutting down the venue for at least three months for renovations and many of the acts scheduled to play there—including the popular monthly cabaret by Tamara the Trapeze Lady—are scrambling to find new homes.

"We're trying to help them out," said Shamah. He indicated that the theater was having major financial trouble: "Let's just say this," he said. "The gas to the theater got turned off. The water got turned off today. They didn't have a dumpster—apparently the garbage just disappeared to some garbage heaven. I wish I knew where that was."

Shamah said he and Sur just want to "bring some good music and good vibes to South Seattle." Some regular acts, like Tamara's, will return after the renovation.